St Patrick's Athletic (2)

St Patrick's Athletic 2 - UCD 0

Keith Fahey and Alan Kirby restored some much needed pride and credibility to St Patrick's Athletic with the goals in this entertaining south-Dublin derby at Richmond Park.

On a day when an alleged betting scandal hit the national papers and airwaves, Fahey's shot on the stroke of half time coupled with Kirby's second half goal secured the points.

Despite conceding those two goals, UCD 'keeper Matt Gregg had a good night as did UCD in general, and at times they didn't play like a side that will be playing First Division football next season.

Having taken centre stage in the nation's newspapers and radio and television news bulletins throughout the day after news broke of their alleged involvement in betting against their team in games; Pat's players were soon getting a dose of reality.

Their injured brigade sat in the director's box - Bobby Ryan hobbled in on crutches and was joined by Damien Lynch, Dessie Byrne, Stephen Paisley and Gary O'Neill. Evidence that their recent poor slump has as much to do with injuries as it has to do with anything else that may or may not have happened.

Added to that was the fact that, despite making the news all day, they attracted one of the poorest crowds seen at Richmond Park this season.

That was a pity because these south-Dublin derbies can be good entertainment. There was early action at either end but no side had the upper hand. Dave Rogers shot wide for Pat's on eight minutes while Shane Duggan went close for College a minute later.

Rogers did well on 28 minutes with a crisp well-placed cross into the box which was destined for the head of Jamie Harris, but Gregg made the first of several fine saves to snatch the ball just as Harris was about to make the connection. Gregg was in the thick of it again on 34 minutes with another super block, this time from Derek O'Brien who had been put in by Fahey.

Pat's finished the half with a flourish with Fahey shooting over on 39 minutes while Harris agonisingly missed a ball at the far post following excellent team work from Ryan Guy, Harris and Fahey.

Pat's were creeping ever closer to that opening goal and it came on 45 minutes when Guy collected a clearance following a UCD attack and fed Fahey who rifled a shot from the left of the box past the diving Gregg.

UCD came out much better for the second half and had a chance to get back on level terms on 52 when Duggan found Evan McMillan in the box but the College youngster faced a wall of red jerseys and was soon hustled off the ball.

College then enjoyed a good short spell of pressure with particularly good showings from Pat McWalter, Conor Kenna and Alan McNally. Those players showed especially that they should not be playing in the lover division next season.

But their good work was undone on 67 minutes when Pat's went two up. Fahey was the provider this time when he found Kirby dead centre inside the box and the number seven made no mistake with his shot.

The game went fairly low-key after that with Pat's happy with the two goals. UCD's next decent chance to get anything from the game came on 88 minutes but McNally headed over the bar when well placed.

© rte.ie

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St Patrick's Athletic 2 - UCD 0

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